BANGKOK, May 16 (Reuters) - The official death toll from the cyclone that swept through Myanmar's Irrawaddy delta in early May has reached 77,738, Myanmar state television said on Friday.

The previous official figure was 43,328. Independent experts say the actual number is probably far higher, with British officials saying the total dead and missing could be more than 200,000. (Writing by Jerry Norton; Editing by David Fogarty) (For more stories on Myanmar cyclone click on [nSP152717] or follow the link to Reuters AlertNet http://www.alertnet.org)

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